SEAI home upgrades waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has criticised the Government for not resourcing the SEAI in its ability to roll out free energy upgrades to families in receipt of benefits such as carers allowance or fuel allowance. A recent Parliamentary Response received by Teachta Crowe indicates that the average waiting time for a survey is now 13 months and the average for completion of works is a further 14 months.

Teachta Crowe said: “A recent response I received from Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has told me that the waiting time for SEAI home surveys is now 13 months and the average for completion of works is a further 14 months. People cannot wait over two years to have this work done. “Without these surveys, works under the free energy upgrade scheme cannot begin and is resulting in homes being saddled with high energy costs when they should be receiving upgrades that will both cut their carbon emissions and reduce costs.  

“The households eligible for free energy upgrades are those in receipt of Fuel Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance, Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Carers Allowance or Disability Allowance for over six months with a child under seven. These are the households that need to see their energy bills cut the most and it is unacceptable that the Government has not adequately resourced the SEAI to even assess these homes. “The upgrades themselves are vital as those in older residential properties may be completely lacking in proper insulation or draught proofing. And if you are on fuel allowance for instance, you certainly cannot afford to be pumping heat out through an uninsulated attic or draughty windows.  

“If the Government was serious about tackling carbon emissions and the high cost of living, they would resource the SEAI so that it can survey homes and get the contractors to work improving these homes for the people who are most in need.”